GRAND RAPIDS -- Church musicians typically work in comparative obscurity, known little beyond their congregations and their peers.

Martin Neary, on one September afternoon, made music that was heard live by an estimated 2 billion people.

Formerly organist and master of choristers at London's Westminster Abbey, Neary directed the music for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 that was televised live around the world.

"If you make your way to the Abby, it's one of the top positions to hold, and it's even more impressive to hold it for 10 years," said Scott Bosscher, artistic director of the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys.

Neary will conduct the adult choirs of Park Congregational Church, First United Methodist Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church with orchestra in music including Joseph Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass" plus music by Purcell and Handel. Freewill offering for a local charity.

Now retired, Neary will be in Grand Rapids this week for a series of musical events, including organ recitals sponsored by the Grand Rapids Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and a Choral Evensong with the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys.

"We're just a little excited," Bosscher said.

Neary's first appearance is tonight with a program of choral music featuring singers from three Grand Rapids churches. Neary also will play music by Purcell and Mendelssohn in recitals on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon at Park Congregational Church.

Tuesday evening's Choral Evensong will be given by the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys, which performs in the English cathedral tradition of all-male choirs. Some 15 boys sing soprano, and 12 men perform the other three vocal parts.

Neary will conduct the choir and play an offertory on organ.

The Choral Evensong service will include music by many English composers, including C.V. Stanford and Herbert Howells, including a piece by Neary.

"Martin's excited that we're doing music by Purcell, because he was Martin's predecessor at Westminster," Bosscher said.

Neary was organist and master of the choristers at Winchester Cathedral from 1972 to 1987 before beginning his appointment at Westminster Abbey. He championed music by contemporary composers, concluding the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, with John Tavener's "Song for Athene," a modern piece influenced by ancient Eastern Orthodox music.

But Neary also promoted music by earlier composers. In 1995, during the 300th anniversary of the death of Henry Purcell, Neary's recording, "Music for Queen Mary," for Sony Records of music by Purcell, featuring the Westminster Abbey Choir and the New London Consort, was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Bosscher, a native of Grand Rapids and graduate of Calvin College, spent three years in Great Britain at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, singing in the cathedral choir and teaching at Wells Cathedral Music School.

Many times, he had the opportunity to attend programs at Westminster Abby during Neary's tenure.

"I watched him work," Bosscher said. "But I never got a chance to sing for him."